Towns County Herald Legal Organ of Towns County www.townscountyherald.net Your Hometown Newspaper Since 1928 50 Cents Publication Number 635540 Volume 83 Number 45 Wednesday, September 12, 2012 Local Weather It’s offi cial: Harleys to return to Hiawassee in 2013 By Libby Shook This news is an incred- Towns County Herald ible boost for Towns County. and [email protected] Any time an event of this magnitude comes to town, Lake Levels It’s offi cial. everybody wins. The Georgia State Harley “Just in hotels alone, Owners Group (H.O.G.) likes $100,000 was brought into the Thur:Clouds 80 52 community,” said Polstra. Fri:Clouds 81 53 Hiawassee so much they voted Sat: Clouds 80 55 Sunday morning to return in With almost 1,500 reg- Sun: Storms 76 53 2013. istered riders, the streets were Mon: Storms 75 53 That’s thanks to the bid full of bikers Thursday through Tue: Storms 78 53 by the Towns County Tour- Sunday. Wed: Sunny 79 50 ism Association at a meeting This many visitors in one with the H.O.G. Committee at community is a huge positive Brasstown Valley Resort. economic impact on the com- Among those involved munity. were Towns County Tour- Everyone benefi ts when ism Association Chairman they come to town, and this Hilda Thomason, Ramada year was no exception. Lake Chatuge Lodge Manager Local restaurants re- Katie Polstra, and The Ridges ported record sales during this Resort General Manager Chad 3-day event and local gas sta- Hooper. tions stayed very busy. Upstream Elevation The vote was between Thursday, the H.O.G. Hiawassee and Columbus. For Rally rolled into Towns County Predicted only to be greeted by a Wel- the third year in a row, Hiawas- Left, members of the Harley Owners Group catch a look at another member’s bike; right, a rocking 09/12/12 see once again won the bid. come Party at Towns County Lake Chatuge 1921.21 It was considered un- Beach. fi reworks display at the Ridges Marina & Resort on Lake Chatuge. Photos/Lowell Nicholson Lake Nottely 1768.70 precedented when they chose The Towns County Tour- ting the Rally know how much with the lake and the gorgeous Blue Ridge 1670.48 members love coming to Towns to return to Hiawassee for a ism Association held a pig they appreciated them coming County. mountains. Everyone was very second year, but a third year roast complete with all the back to Hiawassee for 2012. “It is so beautiful and the excited to be coming back is unheard of according to trimmings. Rita Rogers, Coordina- people are so nice,” she said. INDEX Polstra. This was their way of let- tor for the H.O.G. Rally, said See HOG, page 13 18 Pages “You’ve got everything here Arrests...........................2 Chamber News..................6 Church/Obits..............8,9 Coalition feeds the masses trout Blackberry Smoke delights Classifieds...........................15 By Joe Collins Editorial..................................4 Towns County Herald Letters.....................4 Staff Writer H.O.G. members at Hall Legals ...................................16 Blairsville - The annual By Libby Shook Hiawassee River Watershed Towns County Herald Sports Coalition meeting was held [email protected] at Meeks Park on Saturday, Page 10 Sept. 8. Georgia’s own Blackber- The meeting was held ry Smoke performed a private this year in conjunction with “members only” concert for the Gridiron the annual fundraiser, which is H.O.G. Rally attendees Friday The Towns County a trout dinner complete with all night at Anderson Music Hall. lost a tough one on the road the fi xings. They rocked the Hall with a 17-12 loss to Fellowship “For years we had the with fl oors and walls vibrating Christian. This week the Indians meeting and the fundraiser and Rally members rocking travel to Tiger for a 7:30 p.m. separately and this year it right along with them. meeting with the Rabun County just seemed more practical to Fans were on their feet Wildcats. The Wildcats opened combine the two and it has snapping pictures, clapping, the season last week with a been wonderful. Not only were dancing, waving their arms, 20-6 win over the Hayesville we able to hold our meeting, and moving to the beat of this Yellow Jackets. This Friday but having it with the fund- up and coming rock band. Blackberry Smoke will mark the renewal of the raiser stimulated a growth in They performed Can kinds of music. Anything from Rabun-Towns rivalry. as Towns our membership which really You Love Me Like I Am and Rock ‘n’ Roll to Gospel and Sleeping Dogs and the fans looks to improve to 1-3 on the helps,” stated HRWC Coordi- Bluegrass.” went wild. season. nator Callie Moore. In a little more than a The coalition is a local, It was obvious that this decade together, Blackberry non-governmental, conserva- Those attending the Hiawassee River Watershed Coalition’s band had a huge group of Rally annual trout dinner weren’t disappointed. Photo/Joe Collins Smoke has released three full- ... tion nonprofit organization fans and that they had come length albums, including their TCMS whose mission is to facilitate The HRWC believes that biggest issues facing the water ready to jam and party; they most recent The Whippoorwill, water quality improvement in the best way to protect the wa- quality today is sediment and were not disappointed. the band’s first for Country lakes and streams throughout ter resources is to educate the nutrients. Lead singer Charlie Starr megastar Zac Brown’s South- Indians win the upper Hiawassee River people who live in the water- “We are attacking these was defi nitely a ‘star’ Friday ern Ground Label. The Towns County watershed within Cherokee and shed area and help them when problems by focusing on three night and was at his fi nest as he, They have performed Middle School Indians foot- Clay counties of North Carolina they undergo restorations. major contributing factors that along with the other members with legends such as The ball team improved to 3-0 and Towns and Union counties The HRWC is cur- cause damage to the quality of of the band, rocked the stage Marshall Tucker Band, ZZ with a win over Lakeview of North Georgia. rently working within the con- the water and these are leak- and left the fans longing for Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and at Frank McClure Stadium For more than 10 years fi nes of a program known as the ing and failed septic systems, more with their unique sound even Country Music legend Thursday. The Indians beat the HRWC has provided water Lake Chatuge Watershed Ac- storm water run-off control and amazing instrumentals. George Jones. the Lions by a fi nal score of quality education and funding tion Plan, funded by a Georgia and agricultural management This “blue collar band” Jim Rolader of Law- 18-6. They improved their for and implementation of vol- Section 319 Grant, that through programs. We feel that if we has earned a passionate follow- rencille describes them as, season record to 3-0. unteer watershed restoration five years of collected data, ing over the past decade that “Lynyrd Skynyrd reincar- projects. has determined that the two See HRWC, page 13 continues to grow as the band nated with their incredible itself evolves. Members in- guitar harmonies and powerful ... clude Charlie Starr guitar/ lead southern vocals.” vocalist; Richard Turner, bass/ Hiawassee’s golden boy Youth Towns County honors fi refi ghters vocalist, Paul Jackson, guitar/ Steven Phillips said, “Black- By Libby Shook vocalist; Brit Turner, drums; berry Smoke is a great high Football Towns County Herald and Brandon Still, keyboard. energy show. [email protected] “I’ve been watching and It’s good to see Georgia Towns County’s youth following them for the past boys doing good. Charlie football teams swept their Do you recall where you four years,” said Rick Smith of Starr, the lead singer and guitar opponents on Saturday. were and what you were doing Cumming, Georgia. “They’re picker, was absolutely the star The 6&U team traveled to on September 11, 2001 when more Southern Rock than any- Jackson County and beat the the nation was shocked and thing, but they play different See The Band, page 13 Panthers. The 8&U and 9&U saddened by the news of the squads both faced off with terrorist attack on the United the Banks County Leopards States? in Homer. Both won. Shortly after the Twin City approves HRWC The Youth Teams are Towers fell, the nation be- on fi re. See Sports Page 10 gan to mourn, and around the for more details. country Americans began to stormwater ordinance commemorate the victims and ... show their patriotism. By Libby Shook Some fl ew the American Towns County Herald Cross Country fl ag from their front porches [email protected] The Lady Indians’ while others wore it on T-shirts Cross Country team com- or pinned it on their lapel. The City of Hiawassee peted in a tough match in The Towns County Fire has made history with the Athens last week. Department and Commissioner adoption of the proposed 2012 Ansley Vardeman Bill Kendall want people to be Stormwater Ordinance by a reminded of the great loss the Towns County Fire Chief Mitch Floyd and Towns County unanimous vote of the City and Bradley Smith led the Fire Corps President Liz Ordiales. Photo/Libby Shook way for Towns. nation suffered and to remem- Council at their monthly meet- For more details see ber the more than 2,900 people said Kendall.